498 



ARDEID^E ; HERON, BITTERN, SPOONBILL. 



In our island, and in temperate climates, it is stationary during 



the whole year ; but it is migratory 

 in colder latitudes. It feeds chiefly 

 upon fish ; which it catches by 

 means of a sudden dart of its long 

 beak. Contrary to the usual habit 

 of this order, the Heron builds its 

 nest in the highest trees of the 

 neighbourhood it frequents. The 

 young remain in the nest for five 

 or six weeks, and are supplied with 

 fish by the parents. The Bittern 

 is nearly allied to the Heron, but 

 it is of smaller size. It frequents 

 wild morasses and the oozy banks 

 of large rivers, where it crouches 

 among flags, reeds, and bulrushes. 

 Here, too, the nest is placed, on 

 some slight elevation ; but never 

 in trees. 



This Bird is remarkable for the 



" booming f ' sound which it utters 



during the breeding season ; at other 



times its cry is different. When 



attacked, it defends itself with 



great resolution by means of its 



formidable beak; throwing itself 



upon its back like a Bird of Prey. 



Notwithstanding the unusual 



form of their beak, the Spoonbills 



also belong to this division of the 



family. They live by the edges of 



marshes, or near the sea where the 



ground is shaded with thick bushes ; 



and sally forth from their cover to seize the small fishes that 



may approach the shore, and to pick up small mollusca, crus- 



tacea, and aquatic insects. They nestle sometimes in lofty trees, 



FIG. 281 CRESTED HERON. 



FIG. 282. BITTERN. 



